"A family located in north London is looking for an exceptional and qualified instructor to support their most junior child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily miss the phrase "first-steps" as simple figurative language.
Yet, it might be the most significant part of this distinctive position posting, as it seeks to hire a teacher for a one-year-old.
Hundreds of submissions have since been submitted since the unidentified family advertised their request for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained notice throughout the media, with numerous wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, CEO and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their search, stated that notwithstanding early scepticism, he found the idea "visionary", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he said they recognized the atypical character of their requirement, and how young their son is.
But, they clarified that they "were unwilling to delay any longer" to get a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that stage "cultural conditioning had already taken hold".
What exactly did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the firstborn had adopted "extremely delicate, body language" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family explained to the consultant they did not want the same situation to recur with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who must speak with RP, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Subtle Influence
"Much of the education at the start here is rather acquired indirectly," stated the CEO.
It's through this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to impart.
Adam noted the tutor needed to be someone who went to "prestigious academies – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, just naturally," he added.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, skiing, artistic pursuits and music so as to influence the child in a diverse set of passions.
Furthermore though, he said the family desired the tutor to register the child on a selection of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, guiding their son develop into a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"For all the rights and wrongs of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he adds.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", would the child absorb so-called cultural influence from the multicultural family he lives with regardless?
"Yes", said the CEO. "They realize this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the view of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he stated.
Overly Optimistic
There are some in the private teaching field who share those doubts.
Peter Cui, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who supplies individual instructors, commented that "the development of embracing two identities, or in fact, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not designed."
He noted that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the period of seven, and had been raised knowing and practicing both cultures. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can function as a living vessel of English culture, an individual who can in some way transplant the characteristics of a English gentleman to a one-year-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a quintessentially UK tutor from early childhood will not instantly produce the goal they hope for.
"I did not have that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the opportunities they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The reality is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be selected, and it must be internally driven."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, Britishness is something the CEO hopes can be educated – and sold.
"I think the situation that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
